Water-tube steam-generator.



N0. 684,430. Patented Oct. 15, I901. J. M. HURD.

WATER TUBE STEAM GENERATOR.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

(Ilo Model.)

Patented Oct. l5, IBM. J. M. HURD.

WATER TUBE STEAM GENERATOR.

(Application filed m 4, 1901.

5 Shoots-Shoot 2.

Yu: mums vsrzns 0a.. pno'rumaa, WASHINGTON. n c

Patented flct. l5, I90I.

J. m. HURD. WATER TUBE STEAM GENERATOR.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

N0. 584,430. Patented 061:. I5, l90l. J. M. HURD.

WATER TUBE STEAM GENERATOR.

(Application filed Kay 4, 1901.)

5 Sheets-8haet 5.

(No Model.)

m; NORRTS Pnzas c0, woTmuTha, WASHINGTON, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MILNER IIURD, OF STOKE-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND.

WATER-TU BE STEAM-G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters latent No. 684,430, dated October 15, 1901.

Application filed May 4, 1901. Serial No. 58,749. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES :MILNER Hum), civil engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 6 Church View Villas, Wolstanton, Stoke-upon-Trent, in the county of Stafford, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Tube Steam-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to the class of steam-generators commonly known as water-tube boilers. The boiler is constructed, as heretofore, of a number of tubular elements or groups each composed of a number of straight tubes ranged side by side one above the other, with their ends united to boxes or headers, which are at right angles to them. The several tubular elements are placed side by side and inclined alternately in opposite directions, so that their tubes cross one another. Above them is a horizontal steam cylinder or cylinders forming the top of the boiler. The headers of those elements which are inclined in one direction abut one against the other and the headers of those which ineline in the opposite direction similarly abut one against the other and form gas-tight joints to prevent furnace-gases escaping between them, and outside them is a lined casing which incloses the heated portion of the boiler. The upper headers are connected to the two opposite sides of the steam-cylinder and the lower headers to two horizontal wator-cylinders.

According to my invention I form each element with two or more vertical rows of tubes side by side instead of with a single row only. In this way wider gaps are obtained between the several elements which incline in the same direction, and this gives greaterfacility for examination and cleaning of the exterior of the tubes. I also make the lower horizontal water-cylinder which is at the front of the boiler of smaller diameter than the horizontal water-cylinder which is at the back of the boiler, so as to admit of furnace-door openings being placed below it, thus doing away with special and expensively-constructed water-cooled fire-door archways, which have heretofore been required. I also so dispose the lower boxes or headers that if they were prolonged upward they would pass clear of the lower ends of the upper boxes or headers. This allows of all the tubes being made of the same length. Also where each lower box or header is connected to one or other of the lower water-cylinders a self-acting valve is provided to close if there is any sudden rush of water from the cylinder to the box. Similarly self-closing valves are provided where the top boxes are connected to the steam-cylinder. To provide for expansion and contraction, one of the lower water-cylinders has a flat horizontal seating-plate secured to it on its under side, and this plate rests on rollers which can roll on a suitable horizontal bed.

My improvements are shown in the drawings annexed.

Figure 1 is a front view of the boiler with the front cover removed from the left-hand half, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, on a larger scale, of one end of one of the headers; and Fig.4,a similar section of the opposite end. Fig. 5 is a front view of one of the headers with its front cover removed. Fig. 6 is a front View with the left-hand half of the front cover removed, and Fig. 7 a transverse section of a modified form of the boiler in which three parallel cylinders connected one with the other are at the top in place of a single cylinder only.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a is the steam-cylinder, which forms the top of the boiler.

b and c are the upper headers. At the top they are, as shown, bent over into a horizontal position and connected to the two opposite sides of the cylinder 0, above the waterlevel.

b and c are the lower headers, and d represents the straight tnbes connecting the upper and lower headers.

e is the back horizontal Water-cylinder, to

which the lower ends of the lower headers c 9 are connected, and f is the front horizontal water-cylinder, to which the lower ends of the lower headers b are connected. It will be seen that the cylinder f is of smaller diameter than the cylinder 6 and that the fire-door openings g are formed below it.

h represents the furnace-bars.

vlis an outer casing inclosing the heated portions of the boiler. The casing is in sections, each provided with handles t, by which it can readily be lifted away.

j is a water-gage.

As will be seen from Fig. 5, each header receives the ends of two rows of tubes, so as to give greater facilities for inspection and cleaning, as above explained.

is a self-closing valve at the lower end of each lower header where it opens into one of the lower watcrcylinders, and Z aself-closing valve at the upper end of .each upper header where it enters the steam-cylinder. Preferably I provide not only for allowing these valves to close freely should there be any sudden rush of fluid past them, but also for enabling them to be closed or held open, as may be desired, by hand-gear, as described in an other application made by me July 18, 1901, Serial No. 68,830, and as is shown in Figs. 8 and 4. The ends of the header shown in these figures are the ends of one of the lower headers 1). Its valve is can slide freely to and fro for a distance along the end of arod m between a collar '17, upon it and another collar 0 at its end. Normally the valve remains open, as shown in Fig. 4. Should, however, there be a sudden leakage of steam from one of the pipes connected with this header, the sudden rush of water from the cylinder f past the valve is and into the header which would thereby be caused would instantly move the valve along the rod m and cause it to close against its seat 10, which is fixed in the endof the header. This header and all tubes opening into it would thus be at once put out of action. Similarly the corresponding upper header 1) would be simultaneously put out of action by the closing of the valve Z by the rush of steam past it. Thus this section will be entirely out offfrom the rest of the boiler, so that the boiler could still be worked under full steam-pressure until such time as it may be convenient to repair orreplace the damaged section. As will be seen from Fig. 3, the opposite end of the rod on to that on which the valve is is mounted extends through a stuffing-box b onthe upper end of the header. It also has a screw-thread cut upon it, which screws through a screw-nut q, fixed to this endof the header.

By turning the rod min one or other direction either the collar 11 or the collar 0 on the rod can be brought against the valve, and thus either hold it open or closed, as may be desired. By from time to time moving the valve onto and off its seat in this way the valve can readily be kept always in proper working order.

By disposing the lower headers in such a way that if prolonged upward they would pass clear of the lower ends of the upper boxes, as shown in Fig. 2, plenty of free space is afforded for turning the rods m.

The back lower cylinder e has afiat horizontal seating-plate r fixed to its under side; This plate rests on rollers s, which can roll along a suitable horizontal bed *6. This allows for expansion or contraction of the parts 76 of the boiler. u 111 are the ordinary downfiow-' tubes, extending from the lower part of the ends of the steam and water cylinder a to the ends of the lower water-cylinders e. and f.

The products of combustion rise up through 55 the spaces between the tubes d, then over the top of end wallso and downward through vertical fines to on the opposite side of these walls to horizontal fines w, from which they pass away to asuitable chimney-outlet. The 80 v 7 downfiow-tubes a may, as shown, be within the dues w. r

The construction of the boiler shown at Figs. 5 and 6 is the'same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that instead of a single steam and water cylinder 0. at the top thereare three steam and water cylinders'a' at the top all connected together and that the up per ends of the upper headers are prolonged upward and made to enter into the two outer 9o water-cylinders and to project into'them' to above the water-level. The parts are marked with the same letters'of' reference as in'Figs; 1 and 2.

What I claim is-- 1. Th'e'combination of a steam and Water receptacle, a number of descending. narrow parallel headers ranged side by sideconnected to the two opposite sides of this receptaa cle, the series'of headers on one side inclin= zoo ing outward away from the series of headers on the other side, two other series of headers' below the first, one of these'on one side be ing parallel with the upper one'on the opposite side and the other similarly parallelwith r the other upper one, a series of straight tubes connecting each upper header with a corresponding lower header which is parallel with. it, horizontal cylinders situated below and connected to the lower ends of the'lower rro V headers, fire-doors below one of these cylinders and a fire-grate below the fire-doorsand extending back to below the other cylinder;

2. The combination of a steamand water receptacle, a number of descending narrow r15 parallel headers ranged side by sideconnec-ted to the two opposite sides of this r'eceptaf cle, the series of headers on one side 'inclining outward away from the series of headers on the other side, two other series'of headers :20

below the first one of these on one side par allel with the upper one on the opposite side and the other similarly parallel with the other upperone, the upper ends of the lower headers being below and wholly outside the Vertical V planes of the lower ends of the upper head er's, a series of straight tubes connecting each upper header with a corresponding lower header which'is parallel with it and horizon- .tal cylinders situated belowand connected to: 136

the lower ends of the lower headers.

3. The combination'of a steam andwater receptacle, a number of descending narrow parallel headers ranged side by side connect ed to the two opposite sides of this receptacle, the series of headers on one side inclining outward away from the series of headers on the other side, two other series of headers below the first one of these on one side parallel with the upper one on the opposite side and the other similarly parallel with the other I 0 upper one horizontal cylinders situated below and connected to the lower ends of the lower headers, a self-closin g valve where each lower header opens into the cylinder below it, and a self-closing valve where each upper header opens into the steam and water receptacle.

JAMES MILNER HURD.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. PADDOOK, HENRY R. KING. 

